Badou Zaki challenges Jordan to build on ‘golden generation’ success

Badou Zaki says Jordan have the foundations to continue their recent rise after being appointed as the national team’s new head coach.

The Moroccan has replaced compatriot Jamal Sellami, who led the “Al-Nashama” to qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Before Sellami’s tenure, Hussein Ammouta guided Jordan to the 2023 Asian Cup final and the 2025 Arab Cup final.

Zaki described taking charge of Jordan as “a new chapter and a new challenge” in his career, and said he was pleased to lead a team which has achieved historic results in recent years.

He added that the progress made by Jordanian football had been reflected clearly in the national side’s performances and results. His immediate task, he said, was to build on that progress while preserving the team’s identity and creating an organised, balanced squad for the challenges ahead.

The main priority will be the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Zaki said he had followed Jordan for a long time, giving him a strong understanding of the players’ technical, tactical and individual qualities. The current stage, he explained, involved assessing the readiness of every player and considering the available options while maintaining the team’s stability.

‘A comprehensive revival’

Asked to explain Jordan’s recent breakthrough, Zaki attributed it to “a comprehensive revival” which had coincided with the emergence of a “golden generation” of players.

He also highlighted improvements in infrastructure, the spread of academies, a wider pool from which to select national-team players and greater attention to youth competitions.

Zaki described Jordan’s first World Cup participation as “a successful and honourable campaign by every measure”. Facing major opposition, including Argentina, Austria and Algeria, had given the players valuable experience and demonstrated that they could compete at the highest level, he said.

The coach has made nine changes to the squad since taking over. He said those selections were based on technical and physical readiness, as well as the team’s needs.

However, Zaki stressed that every player remained under consideration. Performance, fitness and the ability to serve the national team were the key criteria, he said.

He also urged caution over suggestions that Jordan could qualify for the 2030 World Cup, insisting that the team’s current focus was the 2027 Asian Cup.

Zaki believes Jordan have the qualities and experience needed to reach the World Cup regularly, but only if they maintain their work, development and consistency.

He said seeing Jordan at the 2030 World Cup would be “special” to him, particularly because Morocco will host the tournament. But he insisted that the team must handle each stage at the appropriate time and continue moving forward “step by step”.